Doctor of Public Health

Program Description

The DrPH degree is the highest professional degree in public health. The DrPH Program develops leaders and research faculty who have proficiency in data analysis, management, critical thinking, teaching, and translating research into policy and practice. Students will be exposed to complex practical problems facing public health practitioners and policy-makers. Three tracks are available within the DrPH program:

The DrPH program must be completed within 7 years. Students who have not successfully completed their comprehensive examinations within 5 years will be subject to dismissal from the program. A minimum of 42 credit hours, exclusive of HCO courses 793 and 796-799, are required to complete the degree. Students will complete at least 15 credit hours of analytical or methodological courses, at least 15 hours of concentration-core courses, and at least 12 hours of any 700-level electives (as approved by advisor). Students must also complete the doctoral seminars (HCO 796), comprehensive examination (HCO 797), practicum (HCO 793), dissertation proposal/protocol development (HCO 798), and dissertation research (HCO 799).

Program Admission Requirements

An MPH or equivalent degree in public health in required.

Applicants with advanced non-public health degrees can be admitted directly into the DrPH program but must successfully complete the MPH and concentration-specific prerequisite courses.

Applicants with a MPH or equivalent degree not in their concentration will take the necessary concentration prerequisites only.

Applicants with only a bachelor's degree but with an exceptional academic record or rich professional experience will be considered. They must be admitted into the MPH program prior to applying to the DrPH program and complete the MPH program before being fully accepted into the DrPH program.

Experience in public health research is required. Applicants must submit GRE scores taken within 5 years. Both the score and the percentile on each of the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections of the examination will be evaluated. A minimum of 1100 (550 on each of the verbal and quantitative sections) or 156 verbal and 146 quantitative (new GRE score) is expected.

International applicants whose native language is not English or who did not complete a degree at an English-speaking institution must submit a TOEFL with TWE test score. The minimum acceptable score is (Paper Based) 550, (Computer Based) 213, and (Internet-Based) 79-80.

Other aspects of an applicant's record, such as educational achievement, professional experience, and clarity of career goals are helpful in determining admissibility.